Step By Step how to put study abroad on your resume

Introduction

Study abroad experiences are a great way to show employers that you are a proactive, independent learner who can thrive in new environments. They also demonstrate your ability to adapt to different cultures and situations–a skill that is increasingly important for today’s global workforce.
Including study abroad on your resume will help you stand out from other candidates and make it clear that you’re ready for the challenges of an international career.

What to Include in Your Resume

Including a study abroad experience on your resume is a great way to show that you are an adventurous, well-rounded person who has traveled and learned from different cultures. There are many different types of study abroad experiences:

  • Short-term programs
  • Longer term internships or volunteer opportunities
  • Semesters abroad (for undergraduates)
    When listing your experience, be sure to include the following information:
  • The name of the program/school where you studied abroad (if applicable)
  • What type of program it was (short-term or semester)
  • Dates spent abroad

Highlighting Your Study Abroad Experiences

  • In the summary section, you can highlight your study abroad experience by including the name of the program and country you studied in. For example: “Studied abroad in Florence, Italy.”
  • In the skills section, you can list any skills that were developed during your time abroad such as foreign language proficiency or cultural competency. For example: “Advanced conversational Italian” or “Developed an understanding of European culture.”
  • In the education section, include any certificates or degrees earned from completing a study abroad program (e.g., International Baccalaureate).

Incorporating Your Study Abroad Experiences Into Your Cover Letter

Incorporating your study abroad experiences into your cover letter is a great way to draw attention to the fact that you have international experience and are open-minded. In addition, it can help show potential employers that you have a diverse range of interests, which makes you more likely to fit in with their company culture.
Here are some tips on how best to do this:

  • Use the word “global” or “international” at least once in each paragraph of your cover letter (if not more). You don’t need much space–just mention it once near the beginning of each paragraph so they know right away what kind of person they’re dealing with!
  • Mention any languages spoken fluently by mentioning something about an upcoming trip abroad where those languages will be useful (e.g., “I am looking forward to my trip next month where I will visit friends who speak [insert language here].”). This shows off both how worldly and well-connected you are as well as how much effort went into preparing for this opportunity!

Explaining Gaps in Your Resume

It’s important to be prepared for questions about your resume, especially if you have gaps in employment. The best way to explain these is by focusing on what you learned and how it has helped you grow as a professional. For example:
“I took a year off between jobs to study abroad in France and Spain. During that time I was able to improve my language skills, which has been invaluable in my current role.”

Tips for Applying for Jobs After Studying Abroad

If you’ve recently returned from studying abroad, it’s important to stay connected with your network. You may have friends and family who are interested in what it was like living in another country, so why not share your experiences with them?
If there’s an opportunity for networking, take advantage of it! This could mean attending an event hosted by an organization focused on international affairs or finding ways to meet other people who have studied abroad themselves–and then inviting them out for coffee or drinks so that you can chat about what they did when they were abroad.
It’s also important to continue learning about the world around us through books, magazines and online articles (like this one!). Knowledge is power when it comes time for job interviews because employers want employees who are well-rounded individuals who can bring something new into their organizations’ cultures–and having knowledge about places beyond those where we live makes us more qualified than those without such knowledge would be

Using Your Study Abroad Experiences in the Interview

When you’re asked about your study abroad experiences, you can use them to demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded person who is able to take on new challenges. For example:

  • “I learned how to speak Spanish while I was in Mexico City, which has been very helpful for my career.”
  • “The most important thing I learned from my time abroad was how different cultures think and live compared with Americans.”
    If the interviewer asks what made you decide to study abroad in the first place, it’s important that they understand why this experience was so valuable for your future career goals. You should be prepared with an answer explaining how studying abroad helped prepare you for life after graduation or gave insight into another culture that will help inform your work as an adult (for example, if someone wants their company’s products distributed globally).

Staying Connected to International Opportunities

When you’re looking for a job, it’s important to stay connected to international opportunities. You can do this by joining organizations and attending events that are relevant to your field of study, or even just by building an online presence on platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter.

Sure, here are some additional tips and insights on how to put study abroad on your resume:

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

When including study abroad experiences on your resume, it’s important to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. For example, if the job requires a certain language proficiency, be sure to highlight your language skills gained from studying abroad. If the job requires someone with experience in a certain culture or region, highlight your experience studying abroad in that specific area.

Use Action Verbs to Describe Your Experience

When describing your study abroad experience on your resume, use action verbs to make your experience sound more impressive. For example, instead of saying “Studied abroad in Spain,” try “Immersed myself in the Spanish language and culture while studying abroad in Madrid.” Other action verbs you can use include “Explored,” “Engaged,” “Adapted,” “Collaborated,” and “Learned.”

Emphasize Transferable Skills

Studying abroad can help you develop a wide range of transferable skills that can be valuable in any career, such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding. Be sure to highlight these skills on your resume and explain how they can benefit the company you’re applying to.

Include Relevant Coursework

If you took any relevant coursework while studying abroad, be sure to include it on your resume. This can demonstrate your interest and expertise in a particular field or subject, and can also show that you’re willing to take on challenges and learn new things.

Provide Examples of Cross-Cultural Experiences

Employers value candidates who are able to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Use your study abroad experience to provide examples of cross-cultural experiences you’ve had and how you were able to navigate cultural differences. This can show that you’re able to work effectively in a global team and are comfortable working with people from different backgrounds.

Conclusion

Including study abroad experiences on your resume can help you stand out in a competitive job market and demonstrate your ability to thrive in new environments. By tailoring your resume to the job, using action verbs, emphasizing transferable skills, including relevant coursework, and providing examples of cross-cultural experiences, you can showcase the value of your study abroad experience to potential employers.

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